Signing the Border (The Sign Design Society November Talk) November 5, 2008

When the government decided that the UK’s passport control operation needed to become more “visible”, design company Applied Information Group looked at the whole experience of people passing through our border controls. AIG charted the journey from plane (or boat, or train), right through the port, through passport control and customs, and out again the other end. Increasing effectiveness and authority of the border controls, in AIG’s view, goes hand in hand with improving the quality of the environment, supporting people’s journey and ensuring information is both relevant and up to date.

Working with their product design partners Lacock Gullam, AIG built and installed a complete UK Border prototype environment at Stansted Airport, as well as temporary signs at all Heathrow and Gatwick terminals.

Kasper de Graaf is managing director of AIG and secretary trustee of the Institute of Urban Information. He is a former journalist and producer of documentaries and interactive projects and also a member of various advisory boards including the Information Environments Unit at University of the Arts London. AIG has developed information schemes in cities as diverse as Glasgow and Dublin, London and Vancouver.

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